Re: Debian is the best!

[Gary Dale <garydale@rogers.com>]

On 18/06/13 10:35 AM, Lars Noodén wrote:
> On 06/18/2013 05:03 PM, Dirk wrote:
> > you are clearly talking out of your ass... a boot loader doesn't need
> > features other than loading the kernel...
> >
> > what crucial work do you do with the features of grub? spreadsheets?
> > presentations? project managing? or do you play it like a text adventure
> > figuring out what the grub rescue console actually does?
> >
> > *primitive is the best thing about lilo*... if you don't realize that
> > then you don't care if a part as stupid as the boot loader doesn't
> > work... because you have alternatives to linux..
>
> Having just involuntarily bumped into the grub rescue console, I can say
> that LILO was much easier to work with and to figure out.  In the case
> of grub I eventually had to give up and nuke the MBR from the rescue
> mode of the installation CD.  grub is complex, grub2 more so.
>
> Regards,
> /Lars

When GRUB came out, it's best feature was that you didn't need to update 
it every time you installed a new kernel - something that LILO required. 
With GRUB2, we're back to needing to update the boot loader when the 
kernel changes.

The other features you need in a boot loader is that it works on 
everything, and you need it to fail gracefully into a mode where you can 
fix the problems that are preventing the system from booting.

Unfortunately, there is also now the UEFI problem to consider. Now boot 
loaders have to contend with security checks enforced by the hardware.

Primitive no longer cuts it. What you need is a boot loader that can 
handle all the crap that gets thrown at it. The boot loader that does it 
best wins.